Rugby World Cup qualifiers narrowly avoid shock defeat to Sri Lanka

Hong Kong China began the defence of their Asia Rugby Emirates Men’s Championship title with a tense, last-second 15-14 win for their Select XV over Sri Lanka in Colombo on Sunday.

The first-time Men’s Rugby World Cup qualifiers have opted to field a largely inexperienced group for the regional tournament, to strength-test their squad depth ahead of the global showpiece event in Australia.

Most of the players who helped to qualify Hong Kong China for RWC 2027 are currently on tour in Japan, leaving a team of rookies to take on the Tuskers.

Eleven of the 15 starters made their Hong Kong China debuts, including outside centre and captain Dean Squires, and the Select XV escaped with the narrowest of victories by the skin of their teeth.

A try from lock Glenn Hui and five points from the boot of full-back Dylan McCann had put Hong Kong China 10-0 up. But Sri Lanka fought back and with an hour gone, they’d turned the match around to lead 14-10.

Sri Lanka were seconds away from securing a prized victory when Squires’ kick-pass found Ng Siu Lung in acres of space and Hong Kong China’s replacement hooker touched down for the match-winning score.

“What a way to finish,” a much-relieved Squires said after the game.

“There were a lot of debutants in that side, and all credit to Sri Lanka they really put it to us, but just massive pride to the boys; for so many of those boys to be winning first caps today and to get that first win is massive.

“Our side is new. That is why there are so many debutants. It has been assembled for these games, and we have not been together long, so to win like that takes a lot of effort and belief from the group.

“We can continue to improve by sticking together and sticking with our processes and systems. Our discipline cost us today with penalties; we gave the momentum to the opposition. We will review all of that and try to implement some things now for South Korea,” Squires added.

HKCR will now face South Korea, runners up to Hong Kong China in last year’s competition, on 7 June.

Hong Kong’s Rugby World Cup training squad meanwhile fell to a heavy 80-0 loss in its opening match against Japan XV in Oita. The rematch will be in Fukuoka on Friday, 29 May.

Hong Kong China are in Pool A with New Zealand, Australia and Chile at RWC 2027, and have the honour of playing the Wallabies in the opening match of the tournament in Perth on Friday 1 October, 2027.